According to the AVMA, H1N1's current vehicle of transmission is person to person; this narrows the possiblity of cross-species infection.
Generally speaking, influenza viruses usually stick to one species when it comes to infection. However, that being said, they also have the unique ability for "Reassortment"; which enables them to merge their DNA with other viral infections from other species, such as the avain flu, or human flu: thus creating a new incredible tough viral strain.
This current 2009 viral strain,H1N1, is a combination of the North American swine influenze viruses, North American avian influenze viruses, and human influenze viruses and swine influenza viruses found in both Asia and Europe.
Scared yet?
|